Log skidder

ABSTRACT

A track-type log skidder comprises a winch assembly mounted on a forward end thereof and a frame assembly extending from the winch assembly and terminating at a fairlead guide assembly positioned at a rearward end of the skidder. A cable carried by the winch assembly extends rearwardly through a cable track mounted on the frame assembly and through the fairlead guide assembly.

United States Patent 1191 Peterson 1 Oct. 2, 1973 L06 SKIDDER 2,292,882 8/1940 Lalngdon 254/l66 x ,4 8 8 I966 G'b l [751 lnvenm" 2??" him", Leimdm, 233,032 61953 P41612253 254/166 a 1 3 u C T C P m FOREIGN PATENTS R APPLICATIONS [7 1 Ass'gnee' 167,105 1959 Sweden 214/855 [22] Filed: Dec. 27, 1971 Primary ExaminerAlbert J. Makay [2].] Appl' 212,207 Attorney-Paul S. Lempio et al.

[52 US. (:1. 214/855, 254/166, 254/190 [57] ABSTRACT [5 1] Int. Cl B66! l9/00 [58] Field 0' Search 214/85 5 523 DIG A track-type log sk1dder compnses a wmch assembly 66 mounted on a forward end thereof and aframe assembly extending from the winch assembly and terminating 6 at a fairlead guide assembly positioned at a rearward [5 I g g gi rg end of the skidder. A cable carried by the winch asseml 1 bly extends rearwardly through a cable track mounted on the frame assembly and through the fairlead guide IX bl l 3,661,113 5/1972 Benedict 254/[90 R X agsem y 2,946,559 7/1960 Pickett 254/ I90 X Claims, 3 Drawing Figures I o) I V 39 ll {42 25 {I2 127" 1:: F 0 D l4 ,3 ii: 2.4 4 L I /26 1 2 c574 has. H

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ROBERT A. {PETERSON ATTORNEYS PATENTEUUB 21 73 3 1325 4 SHEET 3 [1F 3 INVENTOR ROBERT A. PETERSON wifgzwu, 9% 741% +4 44 AT TORNEYS LOG SKIDDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a log skidder and more particularly relates to a track-type tractor adapted for use SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to overcome the above, briefly described problems by providinga compact, economical and efficient log skidder providing high degrees of maneuverability, floatation and stability.

The log skidder comprises a tractor, preferably a track-type or crawler tractor; a winch assembly mounted on a'forward end of the tractor, a frame assembly extending fromthe forward end of the tractor to a rearward end thereof,a fairlead guide assembly-attached to the frame assembly at the rearward end of the tractor and a cablecarriedby the cable assembly and havinga .free end thereof extending rearwardly on the frame assembly and throughthefairleadguide assembly.

BRIEF DESGRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DETAILED DESCRIPTION The illustrated :log'skidder, disposed for movement along a. longitudinal axis thereof, comprisesa track? type tractor 10, preferably having a conventional bulldozer assembly 11 mounted on aforward end thereof.

A winch assembly l2.is alsosmountedion the forward end of the tractor and has acable l3 wound on'a cable' drum .14, rotatably mounted in the winch assemblyin a conventional manner. Suitable actuating means (not shown) may be employed to selectively rotate the cable drum. in either directionfor paying-out orpaying-in the cable.

Aframe assemblytls is mounted to extend over and vertically above thetractor from. the winch assembly. The frame assembly terminates at a fairlead guide assembly .16 positioned atthe rearward end of the tractor..The cable has a free endwhich extends rearwardly on the frame assembly and through the-fairlead guide assembly. During-a logging operation, the cable maybe secured to a fallen'logwhichis then transported toa removal. site .by the log skidder.

As more .clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the frame assembly comprises longitudinally extending and: generally U-shaped tubular members 17 and .18 connected to the forward end of the tractor by sideplates 19 (one shown in FIG. 1), secured onaheavy duty noseguard 20.The rearward end of theyfr'ame assembly is secured to a steel plate2l whichis bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the rear ot'a housing 22 which houses a final drive assembly (not shown) for l the endless tracks. Spacers 23 are positioned between plate 21 and housing 22 to provide suitable clearances for cover plates (not shown) at the rear of the housing.

Fenders 24 are secured to the frame assembly to fully protect housing 22, the endless tracks, the fuel tank (not shown) and attendant structures. The frame as sembly furthercomprises a pair of vertically disposed tubular members 25(FIGS. 1 and 3), positioned intermediate the ends of the tractor. Each member 25 is secured to a bracket 26, attached to the tractors main frame (not shown), which pivotally mounts a push arm of the bulldozer assembly thereon.

In addition, transversely disposed tubular members 27-31 are secured between longitudinal members 17 and 18 to provide an integrated frame assembly exhibiting high degrees of structural integrity and rollover protection- A track assembly for guiding cable movements comprises a pair of longitudinally disposed rails 32 .securedonxthe frame assembly between members 17 and 18 andattached together by crossbars 33'(FIG.

2). Horizontally disposed rollers 34 and 35 are rotatably mounted between rails 32 to further guide and support the overlying cable during its reel-in and reelout functions- A plurality of generally U-shaped bars 36 are secured between the rails in overlying relationship with respect tothe cable to prevent it from being dislodged from the track assembly. Fairlead guide assembly 16 comprises a horizontally disposed roller 37, further disposed vertically below roller 35 (FIG. 1) toreceive the cable therefrom. Apair of generally vertically disposed guide rollers 38 and39 (FIG. 3).cooperate with roller 37 and a secondhorizontally,disposed roller 40 to forma boxlike :configuration to fully entrap the 'cable therebe tween.

Acover plate 41 is preferably secured between mem.. bers l7'and l8,over an operators cab 42, to fully pro. tect the operator duringlogging operations (FIG. 2). A

heavy wire mesh screen 42 is secured between the members, behind thejoperator, to providefull protec-. tion thereat and .yet permit the operator to visually in spect work being performed behind the log skidder. If

so desired, similar wire screening may be provided on eachside of the operators cab.

From the abbverdescription it can be seen that the gross weight of the log skidder is normally distributed to place the center :of gravity c.g. (FIG. 1) approximately at the longitudinal centerof the vehicle and not effect the maneuverability, floatability, stability and general performance of the [log skidder. In addition, frame assembly l6lprovides full protection for the operator during :such operations.

What is claimed is:

l. A'log skidder disposed on a longitudinal axisthereof comprising a tractor, a winch assembly mounted on al'forward end of saidtractor and having a cable; wrapped thereon, a-frame assembly mounted ontsaid tractor to extend over and vertically abovesaid tractor from said winchassembly to a rearward end of said tractor, a track'assembly'secured on said frameassembly to accommodate said cable thereon, including longitudinally spaced roller means and means on said track assembly for preventing said cable from jumpingout of said track assembly during cable pay-out or payin, a fairlead guide assembly attached to said frame assembly at the rearward end of said tractor, said fairlead guide assembly positioned on said tractor to receive and locate the free end of said cable rearwardly thereof, and a bulldozer assembly mounted on a forward end of said tractor.

2. The invention of claim I wherein said frame assembly comprises longitudinally extending tubular members connected to the forward and rearward ends of said tractor, said track assembly secured on said frame assembly between said tubular members.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said frame assembly further comprises a pair of vertically disposed members, positioned on opposite sides of said tractor longitudinally intermediate the forward and rearward ends thereof, secured to said tractor and said longitudinally extending members.

4. The invention of claim 2 wherein said frame assembly further comprises a plurality of transversely disposed members secured between said longitudinally extending members.

5. The invention of claim 2 wherein said track assembly comprises a pair of longitudinally extending rails having a plurality of longitudinally spaced and horizontally disposed rollers and crossbars secured therebetween in underlying and supporting relationship with said cable.

6. The invention of claim Swherein said track assembly further comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced U-shaped bars secured between said rails in overlying relationship with respect to said cable.

7. The invention of claim 2 wherein said fairlead guide assembly comprises a pair of vertically disposed rollers and a pair of closely adjacent horizontally disposed rollers all forming a box-like configuration fully entrapping said cable therebetween.

8. The invention of claim 2 further comprising an operators cab positioned at the rearward end of said tractor and a cover plate secured between said longitudinally extending members to fully cover said operator's cab.

9. The invention of claim 8 further comprising a screen secured between said longitudinally extending members to fully protect a rearside of said operators cab.

10. The invention of claim 1 wherein the center of gravity of said log skidder is located approximately at the longitudinal center thereof. 

1. A log skidder disposed on a longitudinal axis thereof comprising a tractor, a winch assembly mounted on a forward end of said tractor and having a cable wrapped thereon, a frame assembly mounted on said tractor to extend over and vertically above said tractor from said winch assembly to a rearward end of said tractor, a track assembly secured on said frame assembly to accommodate said cable thereon, including longitudinally spaced roller means and means on said track assembly for preventing said cable from jumping-out of said track assembly during cable payout or pay-in, a fairlead guide assembly attached to said frame assembly at the rearward end of said tractor, said fairlead guide assembly positioned on said tractor to receive and locate the free end of said cable rearwardly thereof, and A bulldozer assembly mounted on a forward end of said tractor.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said frame assembly comprises longitudinally extending tubular members connected to the forward and rearward ends of said tractor, said track assembly secured on said frame assembly between said tubular members.
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said frame assembly further comprises a pair of vertically disposed members, positioned on opposite sides of said tractor longitudinally intermediate the forward and rearward ends thereof, secured to said tractor and said longitudinally extending members.
 4. The invention of claim 2 wherein said frame assembly further comprises a plurality of transversely disposed members secured between said longitudinally extending members.
 5. The invention of claim 2 wherein said track assembly comprises a pair of longitudinally extending rails having a plurality of longitudinally spaced and horizontally disposed rollers and crossbars secured therebetween in underlying and supporting relationship with said cable.
 6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said track assembly further comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced U-shaped bars secured between said rails in overlying relationship with respect to said cable.
 7. The invention of claim 2 wherein said fairlead guide assembly comprises a pair of vertically disposed rollers and a pair of closely adjacent horizontally disposed rollers all forming a box-like configuration fully entrapping said cable therebetween.
 8. The invention of claim 2 further comprising an operator''s cab positioned at the rearward end of said tractor and a cover plate secured between said longitudinally extending members to fully cover said operator''s cab.
 9. The invention of claim 8 further comprising a screen secured between said longitudinally extending members to fully protect a rearside of said operator''s cab.
 10. The invention of claim 1 wherein the center of gravity of said log skidder is located approximately at the longitudinal center thereof. 